7 Best Detective Board Games
If you are searching for the perfect game of wits to play on your next game night, nothing can defeat a detective board game. Those board games let gamers pretend to be detectives while solving mysterious cases.
They can be battles of wit and cunning that have you strategizing your next moves in order to reach your goal, which is catching the criminal in time.
There are a lot of different detective board games out there that you can play with friends and family. Those games are a great way to add some thrill to your game night.
In this article, we will mention the 7 Best Detective Board Games that will put your deduction skills to the test. Let your inner Sherlock Holmes come out and have a fun time playing challenging games and investigating mysterious crimes.
Mysterium Board Game: Base Game
Players : 2-7
Ages: 10+
Game Time: 40 minutes
Complexity: Medium
Release Year: 2015
If you prefer murder mystery games that require psychic investigations, then the Mysterium board game can be a great choice. The goal of this tabletop game is to discover who is behind the death of the ghost residing in the haunted mansion. You have to find the killer, the room, and the weapon that the culprit used.
At the start of the game, the players will choose one of them to act as the ghost. The other players will take the role of the mediums or psychic investigators.
During the investigation, the other players will help the ghost to remember what happened on the night of the murder. The ghost can not speak; he will only communicate with the psychic investigators through cards with images that represent dreamlike visions to help them find the murderer and solve the case.
It is a cooperative game where all the players will have to work together to solve the crime. The game will end when the majority of the investigators or mediums successfully know the answers. In this case, the whole team wins. Otherwise, the ghost shall dissipate, and the game is over.
Pros
It has a fun and interesting storyline
The game components are high quality
Amazing artwork.
Doesn’t feel repetitive.
Engaging.
Cooperative board game
Cons
Long set-up time.
Not recommended to be played by only a few people.
Final Thoughts
If you enjoy spooky board games, then the Mysterium Board Game can be a great choice. It can accommodate up to 7 players and has a playing time of only 42 minutes. It is a great choice to play with friends and family and have a fun game night.
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong Board Game
Players: 4-12
Ages: 14+
Game Time: 20 minutes
Complexity: Medium
Release Year: 2020
If you enjoy playing social deduction games, then Deception: Murder in Hong Kong can be a great choice. It is a semi-cooperative game where several investigators are assigned to solve a murder case.
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong Board Game has some special roles such as Forensic Scientist, Witness, Investigator, Murderer, and Accomplice. Those roles are assigned to the players randomly at the start of the game.
In this card game, the killer is one of the investigators, So someone at your table is a murderer, and you have to find out who he is.
The Forensic Scientist knows the identity of the murderer, but he is not allowed to speak. He has to give clues based on cards. The Forensic Scientist will help the investigators to identify the murder weapon and key evidence.
The investigators attempt to interpret the evidence given by the Forensic Scientist while the murderer’s goal is to misinterpret the clues and mislead all the investigators in order to derail the case. Can the investigators see through the lies and catch the real criminal?
Pros
A great game for a big group.
Plenty of social interaction
good murder mystery party game
High replay value
A quick, fun game
The different take on the social deduction genre.
Cons
Some of the forensic board clues are very difficult to make any sense of.
Final Thoughts
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong is a great choice for Those who want an awesome murder mystery board game night. It is a social deduction game that can accommodate up to 12 players and has a playing time of only 20 minutes. It is a good choice for a quick game night or if you want to add some mystery to your next party.
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong Board Game is a true battle of wits and hunches. It is a classic whodunit that is a great addition to any board game collection.
Scotland Yard – Family Game
Players: 2-6
Ages: 8+
Game Time: 45 minutes
Complexity: Medium
Release Year: 2013
If you want a cat-and-mouse type of mystery board game, then Scotland Yard is a great choice. In this game, one player will take the role of Mr. x while the others will act as Scotland Yard’s famous detectives who will hunt Mister X on the streets of London.
The detectives will move around the city of London by land, water, and even underground in order to complete their mission and catch Mr.x
The Scotland Yard board game consists of 13 rounds, and in every round, Mister X first makes his move. Once Mister X has completed his turn, the detectives will have a chance to take theirs.
All detectives have the same goal, which is to catch Mr. X. They can do that in two ways. The first one is when one of the detectives finishes his move on the same station as Mister X. while the second one is to block all stations with detectives, so there is no free station that Mister X can go to
Although this seems to be an easy task, keep in mind that Mr.x has his own special moves, such as secretly recording his next destination and being invisible in some rounds. Mister X will win the game if he manages to travel across London for 13 rounds without being caught by the detectives.
Pros
Tests your logic and deductive skills.
Easy game mechanics.
A good choice for beginners who want to try deduction games.
Engaging and interesting game
A great family board game
Cons
Board has a small font, which might be a bit of a nuisance.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a board game that mixes the excitement of an amazing race challenge with the thrills of a spy movie, then Scotland Yard is a great fit.
This game is designed for players from 8 years and up; it is a game that the whole family can enjoy. It also can be a good choice if you want to introduce your friend to deduction board games.
Deluxe 221B Baker Street Board Game
Players: 2+
Ages: 14+
Game Time: 30-60 Minutes
Complexity: Medium
Release Year: 2016
This board game is a great choice for Sherlock Holmes fans. 221B Baker Street is where the world’s most celebrated fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, lived together with his dedicated companion, Dr. Watson.
Deluxe 221B Baker Street Board Game is rather unique as you will not only focus on one case, but instead, you have to solve a number of intriguing cases that Holmes and Watson have faced together.
In this game, you will take the role of Sherlock Holmes; you will travel through the streets and alleys of Victorian London to pick up clues in order to solve those cases.
Each one of the cases is represented by a card that features all the information you need, for instance, a list of possible locations involved in that crime and a selection of probable suspects.
Players will choose whether they want collaborative or competitive gameplay. You can create a team and work together to solve each case, and every gamer will get a chance to play as Holmes.
When you play this way, the players will decide together which one of the fourteen locations to visit first, and they discuss the meaning of every clue as a team.
Or you can compete with each other to see who can solve the most cases. You can play this game solo as well; If you are in the mood to play alone. It is one of the best mystery board games that can suit every player’s taste.
Pros
The Deluxe edition includes 20 new cases.
That sense of achievement when you crack the case.
Clues vary in depth and relevance.
It can be played in cooperative, competitive, and solo gameplay
Great game for a big group
You take the role of Sherlock Holmes.
Cons
Some cases require a highly complex investigation.
It might not be a good fit for children.
Final Thoughts
Deluxe 221B Baker Street Board Game puts you in Sherlock Holmes’ shoes as you will crack clues and solve several cases. It is an excellent choice for anyone who is a Sherlock Holmes fan or with a keen interest in puzzles.
This game can be played with two gamers and up; this means that there is always a place for more people to join. It is a great game for a big group of friends and parties.
Letters from Whitechapel Board Game
Players: 2-6
Ages: 14+
Game Time: 90 minutes
Complexity: Medium
Release Year: 2020
This game revolves around Jack the Ripper, one of the most notorious serial killers in history. The game board represents the Whitechapel area which is depicted beautifully on a map with 199 numbered locations linked together by dotted lines.
In this game, one player will take the role of the murderer who will try to take down five victims and safely reach his hideout. The other gamers will play as the police detectives who will navigate the Whitechapel streets to catch Jack the Ripper.
The game is divided into four nights; each night is divided into two parts and a number of different phases. The detectives win if they catch Jack or stop him from reaching his hideout within the permitted number of moves. Jack will win the game if he kills 5 victims without being caught, returning safely to his hideout at the end of all 4 nights.
Letters from Whitechapel Board Game has very simple game mechanics. It is an easily accessible game to casual players and families, yet it allows for a lot of variety, depth, and replay value. The locations differ every time, and you can play as Jack or one of the detectives, which provides a unique game experience every time you play it.
Pros
Simple to play.
High replayability
Very thematic and historical.
Trying to outwit your opponent.
Tension throughout.
Cons
Not recommended for those who don’t like murder-themed board games.
Final Thoughts
If you want to investigate the crime scenes of the Jack the Ripper murders, then Letters from Whitechapel Board Game is a good choice. This game is easy to learn; it is a great choice for a fun game night with family and friends. Letters from Whitechapel is a game that you can play over and over again and have fun every time.
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective – The Baker Street Irregulars Board Game
Players: 1-8
Ages: 14+
Game Time: 90 minutes
Complexity: Medium
Release Year: 2020
If you enjoy board games where you can decipher clues and solve mysteries, then the Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective game is a great choice for you.
In this game, the gamers will play as the Baker Street Irregulars, the young kids who work together to help the most famous detective ever during his investigations.
It is a standalone game that comes with 10 cases. It includes introductory cases that are great for new gamers and also offer novel mechanisms and surprises to give something different to seasoned investigators.
In the Baker Street Irregulars Board Game, the players have to work together as a team. They will gather clues and compare their findings until they end up with a unified conclusion. you will need everyone’s wits to solve each one of those cases.
To solve those cases, you can search newspapers, interview suspects, and walk the streets for clues. Once you are done with the investigation, compare your detective skills to the master sleuth himself, Sherlock Holmes. This game will have your brains tickled with quests, riddles, and intriguing mysteries.
Pros
a standalone game with 10 scenarios
Cooperative game
Great game for a big group
It can be played solo or with a team
A good game for family game night
Cons
It does involve a lot of reading, which may make some players impatient.
Final Thoughts
If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, then this game is a good fit. In this game, you will cooperate with other players and help the famous detective in his investigations. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective can accommodate up to 8 players; it is a good choice to have a fun game night with family and friends. It can be played solo as well if you are in the mood to play alone.
Unsolved Case Files: Who Murdered Harmony Ashcroft?
Players: 1+
Ages: 14+
Game Time: 30-120 minutes
Complexity: High
Release Year: 2020
Unsolved Case Files is one of the best murder mystery board games. This game has no minimum or a maximum number of gamers; it is more of a cooperative than competitive experience.
In this game, you will take the role of a cold case detective, and your aim is to find out who killed Harmony Ashcroft on May 8, 1998. But since it is a cold case, you only have the original investigator’s case files in your hand
The game has three objectives; firstly, you have to prove why the convicted man must be innocent. Secondly, you have to disprove a key suspect’s alibi, and the last thing you must do is identify a clue that will put the murderer behind bars. With 3 various mysteries to solve in order to solve the case, this game will challenge your investigative abilities.
In the Unsolved Case Files, there are over 50 documents and photos that you have to investigate and scrutinize. You need to read and analyze the suspect’s interrogations, newspaper articles, evidence reports, and witness statements. When you solve the case, you can check the online answer keys to see if you have solved it correctly.
Pros
An entertaining game for family and friend gatherings
An engaging game that involves a lot of discussions
A challenging game experience
Great game for any number of players
Cons
The game has no replayability.
Final Thoughts
If you dream of becoming a cold case detective, then the Unsolved Case Files can be a great choice. The game can be played with any number of players; it is a great game for solo gamers, couples, or any other group that enjoys solving mysteries and crimes.
